Invasiveness Assessment - Cape broom / montpellier broom (Genista monspessulana) in Victoria (Nox)
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Plant invasiveness is determined by evaluating a plant’s biological and ecological characteristics against criteria that encompass establishment requirements, growth rate and competitive ability, methods of reproduction, and dispersal mechanisms.
| Each characteristic, or criterion, is assessed against a list of intensity ratings. Depending upon information found, a rating of Low, Medium Low, Medium High or High is assigned to that criterion. Where no data is available to answer a criterion, a rating of medium (M) is applied. A description of the invasiveness criteria and intensity ratings used in this process can be viewed here. |
The following table provides information on the invasiveness of Cape broom.
A more detailed description of the methodology of the Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method can be viewed below:
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (PDF - 630 KB)
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (DOC - 1026 KB)
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Common Name: Cape broom
Scientific name: Genista monspessulana
| Question | Comments | Reference | Rating |
| Establishment | |||
| Germination requirements? | Seeds germinate in both autumn and spring. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Establishment requirements? | Establishes as an understorey shrub in woodland and forest areas where it would receive shading from overstorey Eucalypts. | Carr et al (1992) | MH |
| How much disturbance is required? | Establishes in minor disturbed natural ecosystems and healthy natural ecosystems e.g. heathland. National Parks (e.g. Dandenong Ranges National Park). | Carr et al (1992) Gillespie (1991) | H |
| Growth/Competitive | |||
| Life form? | Erect, evergreen, leguminous shrub. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Allelopathic properties? | None described. |  | L |
| Tolerates herb pressure? | “Mature plants are unpalatable”. | Dept. of Primary Industry (Tas,) (1990) | MH |
| Normal growth rate? | Forms dense thickets, which exclude most other vegetation. May completely smother surrounding vegetation. | P & C (1992) DPI (Tas,) (1990) | H |
| Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? | Tolerant of drought, fire, frost (occurs in alpine areas). | P & C (1992) DPI (Tas.) (1990) Carr et al (1992) | MH |
| Reproduction | |||
| Reproductive system | Reproducing by seed. | P & C (1992) | ML |
| Number of propagules produced? | “Prolific seed producer”. > 2,000 flowers per bush (see pic. P & C 1992) therefore > 2,000 seeds per plant. | P & C (1992) | H |
| Propagule longevity? | “Seed is long lived within the soil”. (IFFA 1989). 20-30 years. | IFFA (1989) McDougall (1994) | MH |
| Reproductive period? | Forms dense thickets. (See pic. P & C 1992 p. 479). | P & C (1992) | H |
| Time to reproductive maturity? | Produce first flowers when about two years old. | P & C (1992) | MH |
| Dispersal | |||
| Number of mechanisms? | Pods bursting and ejecting seeds. Also seed movement by vehicles, equipment, agricultural products, mud, etc. Perhaps birds? And animals. | P & C (1992) DPI (Tas.) 1992) | MH |
| How far do they disperse? | Most seeds likely ejected from seed pods on hot summer days, with seeds only being flung 2 m from the parent plant. | DPI (Tas.) (1992) | M |
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